Syrian sources reported shortly before midnight of Nov. 29, that Israeli air attacks had been ongoing from 21:30 over areas in the Damascus vicinity. Three waves of air and missile attacks had struck Al Kiswah, south of the capital, Qanaqar to the southwest, and Quneitra opposite Israel’s Golan border. Arab broadcasting stations claimed that flames were rising over Damascus airport from targeted aircraft. Also hit, they reported, were pro-Iranian militias’ command posts and bases, various missile batteries and Hizballah forces. None of these reports are officially confirmed. However, DEBKAfile’s military sources estimate that even if they are partly correct, Israel is conducting its most wide-ranging assault on Iranian and Hizballah targets in southwestern Syria since its major offensive of May 10 on 52 Iranian and Syrian sites.

The IDF has meanwhile reported that a missile was fired from Syria into Israeli Golan. It exploded on open ground. The spokesman denied any Israeli aircraft were hit by Syrian fire. According to Hizballah’s TV, all IDF bases on the Golan have been suddenly blacked out.

When the news first came in earlier, DEBKAfile posted this report:

Syrian sources, including the official news agency SANA, reported Thursday night that Syria air defenses had repelled “hostiles targets” in the Al-Kiswah region south of Damascus and that the operation was still ongoing. Other sources claimed that the Israeli Air Force had attacked pro-Iranian militia concentrations in the same region. Some said there were Hizballah units present there. DEBKAfile: If those reports are confirmed, then this will be the third Israel attack by air or missile on targets in Syria since suspending its air strikes following the shooting down of a Russian spy plane on Sept. 17. Before that, Al Kiswah took a number of Israeli air strikes, the last occurring on May 10 against a shipment of Iranian Fatteh-313 missiles landing in Syria. Our military sources add that Al Kiswah is the seat of the Iranian command for South Syria which is headed by Maj. Gen. Hossein Hamadani.